Enot Tsukim/ ein Feshkha for BATHING, SWIMMING AND NATURE STROLL

Enot Tsukim/Ein Feshkha is the lowest Nature Reserve in the world, and an absolutely﻿ beautiful place for swimming, picnicking and nature stroll.﻿ The distant views of the mountains of the Judean Desert make a spectacular backdrop.

Public transport: The nature reserve is serviced by bus 486 from the Jerusalem central bus station and bus 26 from Ma’aleh Adumim. ﻿﻿﻿Usebuses 26, 486 and 444 from Kibbutz Kalia junction.

﻿Directions: Enter "Ein Feshkha" into Waze and click on " עינות צוקים עין פשח׳ה". It is about a 7-8 minutes drive from Qumran.

﻿Security: This area is outside the Green Line and in area C. The roads to and around the Dead Sea are well travelled and safe. The pools are popular for Israelis and Palestinians, and the interactions here are a pleasing example of separate but friendly co-existence.

Hours: The park is open in the summer April through to September from 8.00 AM-5.00 PM, and in the winter October through March 8.00 AM -4.00 PM. On Friday and holiday eves closing is 1 hour earlier. The site is open on Saturday.

Admission:Admission to the park is 29 NIS for adults, 15 NIS for children, and 15 NIS for an Israeli senior citizen. A combined ticket for Qumran and Enot Tsukim is 38 NIS for an adult and 14 NIS for a child. ﻿More details about the park are available on their website.﻿

There are free tours of the Hidden Reservein Hebrew from September to June on Fridays (10.00 AM and noon) and Saturday (10.00, noon and 2.00 PM) that last about 1 hour. The area covered is an extensive part of the reserve otherwise closed to the public. A free tour is also available in English﻿ on Fridays and Saturdays, but needs to be arranged in advance, as it will only take place if there is sufficient demand. Their phone number is 02 994 2355.﻿﻿

Swimming: Enot Tsukim has a number of fresh water pools. The first two pools will be adequate for most families, so park in the first parking lot. ﻿The Reed Pool is great for kid's swimming. The Palm Pool is good for swimming and has a deep and shallow section. Both pools have concrete bottoms and no footwear is needed. The Palm Pool has a chair device for lowering the disabled into the water.﻿ If you prefer less crowding, thengo to the second parking lot. The pools here are shallower and are suitable for children only.﻿﻿

All the pools have plenty of picnic benches with shade. WC’s close to the pools can be used for changing. A kiosk sells cold drinks close to the pools and is open during popular periods.﻿

Walking: Do take anature walk on the paths. A ﻿brochure with a map is available in English at the park entrance, and the paths and pools are﻿ clearly marked. The route is about 2 Km and takes about ¾ hour. ﻿﻿

The mountains of the Judean Desert provide a wonderful backdrop for a swim in the Palm Pool at Ein Feshkha﻿.﻿ It is deep enough for adult swimming.